Cuban airports are creating VIP lounges for travelers willing to pay for comfort—in cash

Amid Cuba’s economic crisis, the Cuban government is trying to entice travelers to spend dollars and other foreign currencies at its international airports.

A recent report on state television details the creation of new VIP lounges at airports intended to offer an exclusive service to travelers. The purpose of these lounges is to make the passengers’ stay more pleasant while they wait to board their flight, as long as they have cash to pay for the “courtesy.”

VIP lounges

The television report highlighted the “new areas that increase the flow of freely convertible currency in the country,” referring to the recently inaugurated lounges at the Varadero International Airport.

In a statement, the president of the Cuban Civil Aviation Corporation, Joel Beltrán Arches, explains that there has been an increase in passenger demand for VIP lounges. He did not attribute the creation of new lounges to governmental interest, rather to the needs of travelers.

“What is imposing the need for these expansions is the demand from tourists who visit our facilities,” said the executive.

Dollars are back

As of Aug. 1, tourists visiting Cuba can once again pay for their hotels and goods from Cuban state stores using U.S. dollars.

Before the measure, the Central Bank of Cuba complained that cash was not circulating through financial institutions and that dollars were concentrated mostly in private ownership and the black market.

The government and official sources have also issued warnings regarding the purchase and sale of foreign currency in the black market.

Promises of improved airports

Promises to improve conditions for international travelers have been brought up for several months, as well as an alleged plan to develop Havana’s José Martí International Airport, the country’s main airport.

In response to frequent complaints about basic conditions such as lack of air conditioning, the government has installed several new units throughout the airport.

Another future project is the expansion of Terminal 3, where a large number of passengers from the U.S., Latin America and Europe arrive, as well as the reduction of “waiting times.”